Helena Carreiras

Rector

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO

Contrary to the prevailing narrative regarding the importance of interdisciplinarity, scientific policies and their instruments, metrics and rankings — as well as many deeply ingrained practices within our institutions — have often maintained or even actively promoted disciplinary silos.

 
Entrecampus magazine was launched in December 2019 with the aim of raising the profile of Iscte’s research, telling inspiring stories about the people and projects developed here. Over the past few years, it has done so by reporting on project processes and outcomes, highlighting the career paths of those involved in a format that has gradually evolved into interviews.
The focus was clear: to share information about what we do so that we can get to know each other better internally, while also raising our profile amongst external partners and the scientific community. These remain its goals. However, it is important to renew our ambition by expanding the magazine’s reach both nationally and internationally. For this very reason, from this 12th issue onwards, Entrecampus becomes bilingual, adapts its visual layout to this innovation and will now be under the scientific curatorship of SocioDigitaLab in collaboration with research centres, laboratories and observatories.
The testimonials gathered here clearly reflect the diversity of the research conducted at Iscte in terms of the issues studied, theoretical-methodological perspectives, and research goals. We learn more about support for the inclusion of migrant children in schools, health data storage and the processing of its applications by AI under ethical oversight, the impact of the energy transition on the lives of communities and the development of new technologies for 6G. We also discover projects aimed at making the food system more equitable and sustainable, promoting a paradigm shift in housing policies or understanding the long-term effects of international development projects. In addition, we are introduced to a project — unique in the country — that combines the social sciences with cutting-edge technology which will enable the simultaneous digitisation, processing and visualisation of archival data: the Digitalization and Advanced Visualization Data Lab (David Lab).
In addition to scientific diversity and methodological pluralism, the research carried out at Iscte reflects the way we view the university and the principles underpinning our scientific, pedagogical and societal engagement practices. I would like to highlight three of these.

Firstly, respect for the diversity of approaches to knowledge production. Scientific development and innovation result from non-linear combinations and a complex interplay between basic and applied research. At Iscte, we promote science driven both by the desire for discovery, exploration and curiosity — the fundamental ingredients of free science — and by a commitment to addressing concrete problems. We must continue to do so. Establishing hierarchies and viewing a sequential value chain between research and innovation do not contribute to a healthy scientific system. However, it is equally crucial that we do this within an ecosystem where advanced training and international cooperation take centre stage. It is vital to strengthen both.

Secondly, interdisciplinarity. All the projects highlighted throughout the pages of Entrecampus explicitly incorporate a cross-disciplinary approach. Whilst this is a hallmark of Iscte — and, indeed, a growing necessity in addressing problems that demand the blurring of boundaries between disciplines — it is also one of the most demanding challenges we face. Contrary to the prevailing narrative regarding the importance of interdisciplinarity, scientific policies and their instruments, metrics and rankings — as well as many deeply ingrained practices within our institutions — have often maintained or even actively promoted disciplinary silos. This is not to deny the importance of specific developments within different scientific fields, which must continue to be encouraged. It is a matter of living up to our rhetoric, resisting strictly corporatist logics and perspectives that constrain the quality of the knowledge we produce and reduce the effectiveness of its application. At a time when the main laws and regulatory frameworks governing science and higher education are under review in our country, it is a time for epistemological vigilance. However, it is also a time for intervention to ensure that policies align with the values we advocate.

Thirdly, internationalisation. Universities are now increasingly assessed on their degree of international openness and the strength of the external relationships they maintain. Iscte has just presented its strategy for internationalisation, highlighting the importance of an integrated and inclusive vision that strengthens the quality of teaching, research and innovation and contributes to the institution’s international profile.
The ambition set out therein is to be recognised as an internationally connected, academically rigorous and socially committed university — a university capable of attracting international talent, developing high-value partnerships, providing quality international experiences for the entire academic community and establishing itself within networks, projects and rankings relevant to its mission. The projects highlighted in Entrecampus clearly demonstrate the importance of networks and international cooperation to our success. We know that we need to expand this effort, and to do so, paradoxically, at a time when walls are being erected, science is being called into question, people’s mobility is being hindered and academic freedom is being restricted.

This journal, in its new bilingual format, will certainly help to address this challenge, enabling us to showcase to society a significant part of what we do at the university. This is essential to preserving the legitimacy of institutions and the value of science and knowledge.